Georgetown: The Public Works Ministry has terminated a multi-million dollar sea defence contract that was undertaken by Toolsie Persaud Quarries Inc., in Leguan; and suspended the contract for M&B Construction carrying out works in Wakenaam.
According to government, on August 14, Transport and Hydraulics Minister Robeson Benn requested that the Public Works Ministry’s engineers suspend M&B Construction’s contract until the contractor repairs a two-mile stretch of road in Maria’s Pleasure, Wakenaam.
Trucks that transport the boulders for sea defence works have damaged the road which impedes the free flow of movement in and out of the community.
The Minister said “I was in the area yesterday and many residents bemoaned the fact that they really cannot use the road. It is evident that they traverse it with great difficulty”.
“The Minister further stated that the contractor, Mahendranauth Oodit, was warned before about using heavily loaded trucks on the road. The company commenced the construction of Rip Rap Sea Defence on January 16” Public Works Ministry noted “They were told to use lighter loads in transporting materials between stockpiles, and despite several engagements with the Ministry’s sea defence engineers they blatantly continued, the Works Minister disclosed,”
It was noted that Benn had visited the island six weeks ago, where frustrated residents had begun to complain about the state of the road.
“Now they have to repair it immediately. The contract will remain suspended until the road is fixed. The residents deserve that!” the Minister declared.
The contract is worth $96.6M, and Minister Benn revealed that the level of damage to the road “may exceed the monies that were allocated for road maintenance in the contract,” the release further stated.
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